What Wicca Is

So last time I talked a little bit about what Wicca is not, and rightly so because the media and other entertainment sources, as well as religious (which I did not cover last blog...its a whole different post) have really given Wicca a muddied picture.  Now lets talk about what Wicca in general really is.

Now firstly I had mentioned that it is not an easy out of life problems.  What Wicca is however is a belief system that puts you in harmony with the world around you.  The Wiccan Reed, our chief set of guidelines for living, for instance, tells us to do no harm in our day to day activities.  Later on I will be doing a point by point overview of the Wiccan Reed.  The basic is idea is tough, that its principles contained in the Reed are all geared toward peaceful co-habitation with the world and people around you.

The main focus is Wicca is self improvement by harmonious use of what the world around us provides, while at the same time honoring the ones that provide such things to us.  Its true, we do have many Gods and Goddesses that we pay honor too because we, and we do use ritual spell work to do that.  But its all in the name of improving who we are and our value to the world and universe around us.

So how does Wicca improve us?  It encourages us firstly to recognize that there are beings that are greater than us.  Unlike the many Christian based religions out there that almost force their beliefs on others and are stringent in enforcing their many many over bearing ideals on to its members, Wicca is a free flowing belief system that is open to many different ideas and views, lifestyles and so on.  If another person practices Wicca has maybe some slightly different ideas and thought processes, or even ways they do things while engaged in their craft. 

This is entirely OK to us because in our view when we ourselves do something in a certain way while practicing the craft, something moved us to do or view it that way.  We never really know why until the end result manifests itself for what it is. That's not for us to question, we instead respect the differences of other people, even if it doesn't necessarily resonate with us personally.  Unfortunately the Christian religion and many other religions for that matter, are largely strict about their specific form of worship.  

I don't think there will ever be a full and official definition of what Wicca is because its so eclectic compared to the more structured religions. As such, its much more open to interpretation.  Yeah you will find endless books at your local Barns and Noble Bookstore...or better yet at most Metaphysical stores but remember, where many of them are going to echo similar basic beliefs, I would say a fair many of them are going to differ on many of the finer points, and often those differences will be based on the authors experiences.

The best advice here is constantly be learning, fill yourself with as much knowledge as you can from as many different sources as you can.  Then think about what your learning.  As you do, the universe will tell you whats going to fit you best.  Its not one of those things where people can tell you when you know its right.  That's a feeling and conclusion that only you can come to.  So be open to so you wont miss it.

Next time:  The Basics:  The Wiccan Reed Part 1

What Wicca Is Not

Its interesting.  Back when I first started to study Wicca, I was filled with a lot of notions of what Wicca actually is.  Now that's important because one needs to understand what something they are pursuing is so they do it right.  But often with the young crowd, they have some crazy notions of what Wicca, witchcraft and neo-paganism is.  So in that vain I think its appropriate to talk about a few things that Wicca is not.

First and foremost:  Wicca Is Not An Easy Out of Life's Problems.

I think that statement is important to focus on here, because I sense that many people believe that those of us who practice different forms of Wicca and Paganism, believe we are looking for an easy way out of life's problems and issues.  That reasoning couldn't be further from the truth!  As a matter of fact, sometimes practicing any form of paganism brings a little more hardship than anything else.  For instance I actually had someone once call me pathetic because I had stopped believing in biblical religion and was practicing Wicca.  Now that's certainly not the harshest treatment that's ever been received by a Witch, but it gives you an idea of the continued rhetoric that people still grasp on to, even though our religion is federally accepted. 

Now anyone who actually does believe that Wicca and other forms of paganism is an easy way out of their problems I would say firmly, stop it!  Sit back and really put some effort into learning what Wicca actually is.  You think that practicing Wicca and casting spells is fun and that easy out I keep repeating?  Actually Its not.  Learning and working toward a practicing witch, whether affiliated with a coven or what we call a Solitary Practitioner, actually adds to the responsibility on top of what we were already responsible for.  In fact, I think it adds even more responsibility than even following the Christian Bible does in many respects, which I will go into why that is in a later post.

Next:  Wicca is neither Charmed nor is it "The Craft"

Remember that wonderful show that ran from 1998 to 2006?  It was an awesome series that I recently thoroughly enjoyed, it was a lot of fun, exciting, hip, emotional and sadly, nearly 100% inaccurate compared to the reality of Wicca.  But that's the media view of it.  As is the 1996 movie the craft (which interestingly the main antagonist is actually Wiccan in real life and at one time owned a metaphysical store). In fact most of the entertainment media out there is just that, nothing more than glamorized entertainment.  So if you think your making progress by following Hollywood's version of Wicca or any form of Paganism for that matter, you might find yourself spinning your wheels.

This is why I get irritated when I start hearing people try to feed me lines of reasoning that are clearly formed from the entertainment world.  That's their version and I think for a lot of newer people its really bastardized their first brush with the world of Wicca, and kept in a place where the lines of reality are blurred.  Wicca is a beautiful belief system, very rich in history from modern day versions (non Hollywood versions mind you) to the ancient Celtic beliefs where modern day Wicca largely evolved from.

Next time:  What Wicca Is!